Interviews with students from various public schools in Ibadan, Oyo State, reveal the everyday struggles girls face, ranging from inadequate pain management support to the lack of sanitary facilities.
Menstrual hygiene is a global issue, affecting over 500 million women each month, yet access to disposable menstrual products remains a challenge, according to the World Bank. In Nigeria, the situation is dire—last year, 37 million women were reported to be suffering from period poverty, which famously refers to the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education.
A UN Women analysis identified ignorance as a key factor driving period poverty. This explains why menstrual hygiene education is crucial in schools—to equip female students with the knowledge and resources to manage their periods safely, comfortably, and with dignity. However, the lack of access to clean menstrual products, proper sanitation facilities, and accurate information about menstruation becomes a barrier to a girl-child education, increasing the risk of infections and deepening gender inequality in schools.
Despite some government initiatives, menstrual hygiene education in Nigeria’s public secondary schools is primarily driven by NGOs. These organisations conduct periodic visits to select schools, educating girls on menstrual health, product usage, and hygiene practices. While these efforts have helped some students transition from traditional methods—like using rags—to modern menstrual products, the impact remains limited. Many students still lack access to essential menstrual health resources, leaving millions trapped in period poverty. Muhydeen Hikmah, a senior student of Ibadan Metropolis Grammar School, is a perfect example of this narrative in Oyo State.
In an interview, Hikmah recounted her challenging experiences associated with her menstrual cycle, which are characterised by discomfort and fatigue, and how these symptoms detract from her ability to engage fully in her academic activities. She stated, “I experience mood swings and discomfort during my menstrual cycle. At times, I feel unwell and mentally fatigued, leading to a divided focus during learning sessions.” Hikmah also explained the case of a peer who occasionally misses school entirely due to severe menstrual pain and facilities problem.“In our school, there is no toilet, so it is either you hold your period till you get back home or you do not come at all.”
Hikmah said she manages her discomfort with the use of hot water and medication. But even at that, for the pain, there is a notable absence of provisions for pain relief medications within the school environment. This lack creates difficulties for students who may experience sudden menstrual cramps during school hours. Hikmah’s experience put across the urgent need to provide menstrual health kits in schools, which should include menstrual products and pain relief medications. Implementing such measures would facilitate continuous learning and school attendance for students, irrespective of their menstrual cycles.
Hikmah’s perspective was echoed by her classmate, Akinpelu Dolapo, who shared a similar experience and emphasised that menstrual health education has not been a component of their school curriculum since she enrolled in junior secondary school two (JSS2). “Apart from non-governmental organisations that offer educational sessions on the menstrual cycle and donate sanitary products, we have not received formal instruction on this subject in any of our classes,” Dolapo remarked.
This situation shows the necessity for the integration of menstrual health hygiene education into the school curriculum. When asked about her approach to changing her sanitary products during school hours, Dolapo expressed a preference for doing so at home to avoid the risk of infection.
Poor Sanitation Facilities
Aderibigbe Fatimah, a student at Immanuel Grammar School, pointed out that while NGOs educate students about menstrual hygiene, the school toilets are often locked. As a result, students are forced to change their pads in the bushes. Although there is water available at the school, the toilets remain dirty and inaccessible, pushing students to resort to changing in the bushes. “NGOs do come to our school to educate us, and we have also learned about menstrual hygiene in Senior Secondary School 1,” she said.
This issue is common in many public schools. For example, at Akinyele Community School, modern toilets and facilities were built, but the management has kept them locked, leaving students with no option but to use the bushes or wait until they get home.
Sofiyyat previously reported: How Oyo State Schools Suffer Poor Sanitation Due to Weak Education Policies
Boluwatife, a student at Akinyele Community School, shared her experience regarding menstruation, highlighting the unhealthy menstrual hygiene practices among female students. “My menstruation causes discomfort, especially when I need to change my pad. There’s no toilet available, and my unease often forces me to stand during lectures. As soon as the closing bell rings, I rush home,” Boluwatife explained.
Health Risk of Poor Menstrual Hygiene
According to the Healthline, an online health and wellness website, pads get easily soaked depending on the type of pads used or the rate of menstrual flow, which depends on hormones and the time of the day (sunny period). When this occurs, it calls for a pad change immediately. If it takes extra hours before the pad is changed, it can cause menstrual odour, discomfort, and infections.
Boluwatife’s case exemplifies this risk. Though there are pads that can last eight hours before changing them, it is better to change once the body becomes uncomfortable. Therefore, toilet facilities should be accessible and clean at all times.
Read Also from the Author: Policy Gaps Leave Children Trekking Miles to Access Education in Oyo State
Efforts of the Government in Addressing Menstrual Hygiene
In collaboration with the Girls to Women Ease Foundation, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion initiated a street campaign in May 2024 aimed at raising awareness regarding the adverse effects of the unsanitary use of rags during menstruation, as well as addressing the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy and childhood marriage. While this initiative represents a commendable and significant effort, it is noteworthy that the campaign did not extend its reach to educational institutions, consequently limiting its potential impact on students.
In 2023, it was reported by the Nigerian Tribune that the first Lady of Oyo State, Engr Tamunominini Makinde, had an event themed “Your menstrual hygiene matters”, in which 100 girls from the 33 local government areas were in attendance. This program discussed the lack of menstrual hygiene management and its effects on girls’ health. At the end of the program, reusable sanitary towels, deodorant, and some other essential sanitary materials were distributed to the girls in attendance. However, this is not sustainable as some girls benefitted while some did not. Moreover, it is not a continuous event.
Another report by the Nigerian Tribune in May, 2024 disclosed that aside visitations to schools to donate pads and sensitise female students on menstrual hygiene, five NGOs (Pad A Queen Initiative (PAQi), The EME Foundation, The Glea Network, The Great Impact Foundation (TGIF), and the One Voice Initiative (OVI)) took a friendly walk upon themselves to advocate for period-friendly toilets in Oyo State Public Schools. The EME Foundation also championed the petition to provide free menstrual products in school, the provision of toilets and hygienic facilities of United Nation Standard, prioritise menstrual health, organising training for teachers to menstruating girls, submitted to the office of the Commissioner for Education Science and Technology.
NGO Tackles Period Poverty
Girl Up Sapphire is a branch of the Girl Up United Nations Foundation located in Ibadan, with membership extending to the Kwara, Ogun, and Osun states. This organisation is dedicated to representing marginalised girls in the Southwest and uniting them to effect change through innovative programs. Although Girl Up Sapphire is a relatively new organisation, having been established two years ago, it has successfully engaged over 3,000 girls in the region. One of its key initiatives, the “Flow for Free” project, has reached girls in selected schools across Ilorin, Abeokuta, and Ibadan.
In an interview, Omotolani Tolulope, the president of the club, emphasised that the “Flow for Free” project specifically addresses the issue of period poverty. Despite the initiative’s success across three states, it has encountered significant challenges, notably in securing funding. “Flow for Free addresses period poverty by educating approximately 3,500 girls in designated locations on menstrual hygiene and management. Furthermore, we have distributed reusable pads to 1,400 girls,” she stated.
Ayomikun Orobiyi, the club’s adviser, noted that while the Girl Up United Nations Foundation has a range of focal areas, Girl Up Sapphire concentrates on three specific domains: STEM for Social Good, gender-based violence, and reproductive health rights and justice. She explained that despite being fortunate to receive the Girl Up Award multiple times, the club faces the challenge of obtaining permission to implement projects within schools.
“Acquiring funding resembles a survival of the fittest scenario, with competition among 7,850 Girl Up clubs worldwide. Although we have secured several grants, there is an ongoing need for additional funding and partnerships. Moreover, certain school administrations have denied us permission to conduct our projects,” Ayomikun elucidated.
To enhance menstrual hygiene management, Ayomikun advocated for governmental initiatives that educate both boys and girls on menstrual hygiene, suggesting the adoption of Scotland’s model of providing free period products. “The government should incorporate comprehensive sexual education into school curricula, educate men to become allies, and ensure the availability of menstrual products in public facilities, similar to the practices in Scotland,” she asserted.
Omotolani added that “government intervention and collaboration with non-governmental organizations would significantly address period poverty, as increased funding would enable more projects and greater impact.”
Government Response
When solicited for a statement regarding the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Professor Adelabu refrained from commenting and referred inquiries to the Ministry’s press officer.
Oluwakemi Omotosho, the press officer of the Ministry, informed the reporter that there is currently no active sector plan; however, preparations are underway to develop a new plan for the period of 2025 to 2027. “Oyo State possesses a distinct Education Sector Plan (SESOP), which is separate from the Oyo State Roadmap to Sustainable Development for 2023 to 2027. The last SESOP covered the years 2019 to 2021, and the Ministry intends to formulate a new plan for 2025 to 2027 in collaboration with the Malala Fund.”
In response to inquiries concerning government initiatives for schools lacking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, she indicated that “The State Government is currently undertaking comprehensive renovations of select schools throughout the State, and the provision of WASH facilities is included among the expected deliverables.” However, Mrs. Oluwakemi did not provide information regarding the Ministry’s initiatives related to menstrual hygiene management.